BACKGROUND The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli is increasing rapidly worldwide. Treatment options for ESBL-producing E. coli are limited, and infections caused by this organism are associated with improper antibiotic use, a long hospital stay, and increased mortality. Thus, the assessment and early recognition of the risk factors of nosocomial infections due to ESBL-producing E. coli are important for the infection control and proper treatment. METHODS: A case-control study was performed that included nosocomial episodes of ESBL-producing E. coli bacteremia at a tertiary care hospital from January 2004 to December 2007. For each case patient, three controls were randomly selected and data on predisposing factors were collected. RESULTS: Fifty-five cases of nosocomial ESBL-producing E. coli bacteremia were studied. Carbapenem usage (OR: 11.3, 95% CI: 1.1-115.9, p=0.041), quinolone usage (OR: 4.5, 95% CI: 1.1-18.8, p=0.042), biliary obstructive disease (OR: 11.8, 95% CI: 3.0-46.7, p<0.001) and the APACHE II score (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.2- 1.5, p<0.001) were analyzed as independent risk factors of nosocomial ESBL-producing E. coli bacteremia. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that physicians caring for patients with risk factors of nosocomial bacteremia should consider ESBL-producing E. coli as the causative organisms of the disease.
BACKGROUND Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases(ESBL) are enzymes that confer resistance to oxyimino-beta-lactams as well as to penicillins and cephalosporins. Strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli that produce ESBL have been increasingly prevalent in many countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ESBL production rate of K. pneumoniae and E. coli at the in Yeungnam University Medical Center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one isolates of K. pneumoniae and twenty-five isolates of E. coli were examined for ESBL by double disk synergy test, using 20/10microgram ticarcillin/clavulanic acid and 30microgram oxymino-beta-lactam(ceftazidime, ceftriaxone and aztreonam) disks. RESULTS: Fifty-two percent of K. pneumoniae and sixteen percent of E. coli isolates revealed double disk synersism. Majority of ESBL-producing strains(fifty-five percent) were isolated from patients in the intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: ESBL production of K. pneumoniae and E. coli were also common at the Yeungnam Univercity Medical Center and pose a serious problem for antimicrobial therapy.